“Canadian media guru, Marshall Mcluhan once said ‘the medium is the message, but as I see it,” Craig quips, “the message is the message and the medium is just a servant to that message.”

“The drive for effective storytelling should override all arguments over the choices of print vs. web, film vs. digital, stills vs. motion, Canon vs. Nikon and Ford vs. Chevy. Ultimately, I want my work to engage an audience at some visceral level and move them to a new level of understanding that directly affects their attitudes and actions.”

In 1999, Pulsifer left a career in Forest Engineering to serve editorial markets and humanitarian agencies as a fulltime photojournalist. His self-taught, eclectic style makes for interesting viewing of the world through eyes that are passionately drawn to the subtle and not-so-subtle extremes of humanity.

PDN Online - Watertight: Diving Into Self Promotion

“You can’t feed a family on good intentions,” says Craig Pulsifer, a humanitarian/travel photographer, based in British Columbia, Canada. “So, we’re putting our money where our mouth is to get the work that’s out there.”. Read Full Article

For more on Craig please visit www.craigpulsifer.com

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Q&A:

What would be your media of choice (digital or film)?
Digital, occasionally 6x7 film

What would you consider your first big break in the business?
Comp tour of N. Thailand with Novica.com - a National Geographic Society affiliate - led to important relationships with National Post and other Canadian editorial outlets.

What was your most challenging assignment?
In 2007, I visited an adult handicap facility in Boria Ugle, Ukraine; the place was a catch-all for the mentally and physically disabled and pretty much the end of the line for residents there.

What is your funniest photo experience?
If not funniest, definitely the most recent: I just wrapped an essay on cross-cultural workers that had me in a conference where a great spread of Japanese food was served. I poked into the kitchen to photograph the food crew and let staff chimp at their pix afterwards. At one point, the head chef remarked that I must have a very nice camera to take such beautiful pictures. "Yes", I said, adding, "and having tasted the lunch, I can say that you obviously have very good pots!"

What was your 'assignment from hell'?
In 2008, work took me to N. Vietnam. The assignment took months to pull together, but while I was enroute all in-country hosting fell through. After cobbling together a makeshift tour, I entered the country only to meet an oncoming truck on my motorcycle in remote western mountains. It was week 1 of a 3-week assignment, but despite a broken foot and separated shoulder I finished the gig with a solid submission.

What is the most exotic location you've shot in?
Alona Beach, Philippines

What was your biggest photo mistake?
Traveling through S. China in rainy season, I stopped to take pictures of a Red Army road crew repairing a washout. You know those warnings about not taking pictures of soldiers you hear about? Believe them.

Your idea of the "dream assignment"?
Almost anything that is concept-driven that involves clients with creative latitude.

What three photographers do you most admire:
Yousuf Karsh, Larry Towell, James Nachtwey

Your top three photo tips:
Maybe this should read: "Top three things I keep trying to remember":
1. Pre-visualize your shots
2. Anticipate change
3. Trust your instincts

If you could change your profession what would it be?
I already did. I switched to photography.

Your advise to aspiring photographers:
Photography, like farming, fishing, and logging is a business and often a hard one. It's all well and good to have romantic notions of your calling and craft, but in the end, it's also a business. Treat it like one and you may even survive.

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